DIY Project: The Giant Atari Joystick Lamp

There is no doubt that using old technology as an inspiration to do new stuff is really cool. That is to say that nothing is more cooler than using old video games. The Atari joystick is the epitome of video games. It's recognizable everywhere and is especially striking, which is why we found this lamp so interesting. This lamp is a tribute to all things relating to video games, and it was a DIY project, so you can make one yourself as well.

Seamster created this lamp for a Craftsman contest. He wanted to create something something unique and had a short amount of tools in order to accomplish his goal. We have to say that this lamp really rocks. It looks exactly like an Atari joystick, except that it's about 5 times the size of a normal one.

One important thing that Seamster mentions is that he practiced making the parts a few different times in order to get them just right. We can see how this could be important, since this build necessitates some precision. His 15 step Instructable is quite detailed and will help you create your own amazing lamp. He used photos to model his lamp, since he no longer has his Atari 2600. He assembled the top piece using MDF. Getting the base created took quite a while, since Seamster started from scratch. The success of his build entailed spending a lot of time on details, like the raised ring around the joystick and the way that the base looks.

Once the raised ring and base were done, he moved onto the stick, which took him two times to get right. He used the covers of some old video games to make the lamp shade, which is quite appropriate. He primed and painted the whole thing, the set himself to assembling the lamp, using a simple socket lamp from Home Depot. All in all, it's a pretty sweet build and it looks really good. You have to be good with wood or have some experience with carpentry. Even if you don't, getting some help or taking your time will make your Atari lamp look good. [via Make, photos by Seamster]